Training is important for new economic development and land commission members to do their job well and obtain a broad understanding of laws and best practices. In many cases these are volunteers with no formal training in economic development, planning, zoning or land use responsible for making very important decisions. According to the Connecticut Local Economic Development Organization Survey conducted in 2019, municipalities of all sizes rely heavily on volunteers and part-time staff to achieve economic development goals. Overall, municipalities averaged 4.3 full-time staff, 1.8 part-time staff, and 7 volunteers responsible for economic development (Brown & Frew, 2019). Training should emphasize the roles and responsibilities of the job and provide information on recent economic development initiatives and strategies. Consider aligning training with the DesegregateCT recommendation that land use commissioners receive 4 hours per year of training, including training in fair housing.
The Pennsylvania Municipal League, a non-profit organization in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, offers training programs that address municipal responsibilities and emerging local and state issues. The Pennsylvania Municipal League offers in-person and online training on a variety of subjects including construction codes, energy code, floodplain management, and more revolving around economic development. Moreover, the University of North Carolina’s School of Government offers a variety of one-day workshops that covers topics such as an overview of economic development, building an effective economic development program, best practices and opportunities in your region, and more. Furthermore, the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides educational materials for their staff on topics such as community economic development, data analysis, and economic growth. In addition, The Alabama Local Government Training Institute offers a 50-hour mandated education program for their county commissioners. This program is intended to develop and maintain high standards of public service, educate on the roles and responsibilities, provide an informed policy making, and improve the overall administration.